Fitness Gadgets: Effective Tools or Worthless Gimmicks?

By Fara Rosenzweig and Maile Proctor • Active.com

From the Shake Weight to the Ab Glider, it seems like there's always a new product on the market that promises weight loss and six-pack abs with little effort. But can a gadget or gizmo really give you the results you want in less time? Before you shell out cash for a Sauna Suit or Electronic Ab Belt, let's take a closer look at these products and settle the debate: When it comes to fitness, should you break a sweat or break the bank?

Shake Weight

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"Shake Weight is the flab-busting breakthrough that trims your arms and shapes your shoulders at the same time," according to the makers. Or it might be an instant sore neck. The six-minute workout, provided by Shake Weight , seems too good to be true—and it is. Shake Weight testers who tried the six-minute workout for 14 to 30 days didn't lose inches off their arms; in fact, they noticed a loss in muscle strength. Don't waste your time or money. Try this toning workout to get sleek-looking arms.

Thigh Master

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The Thigh Master does target and tone the thighs, but you can also strengthen the thighs as you challenge other leg muscles with squats, lunges and bridges. If you incorporate exercises that work multiple muscle groups at once, you avoid spending long hours in the gym. Plus, spot reduction is a myth. You can't reduce fat from one area of the body by doing one exercise. To remove fat from your body, you need to work the surrounding muscles. Try these six moves to get leaner legs.

Ab Lounge

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Do you want a flat stomach? The Ab Lounge is just the ticket to help you achieve your goal...not! The Ab Lounge doesn't use your abdnominal muscles like ab and core exercises do. If you want to relax, use this lounger at the pool. Save your money and instead perform these five exercises to get nice-looking abs.

Six-Second Abs

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Wouldn't it be nice to get abs in six seconds? According to the commercial, Six-Second Abs is the magic trick to your dream pack. In reality, it's more of a muscle-strainer than muscle-strengthener. Save your money—you don't use your muscles properly to get a six-pack with this tool. Experts say the best way to flatten your belly is to do core exercises. Try these five moves to get ripped abs.

Electric Abdominal Belt

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Electric simulation is typically used in physical therapy to strengthen weak muscles. However, the Electric Abdominal Belt says it can trim fat and give you rock-hard abs. Yet, there aren't studies that show electric simulation can do such things. In fact, there are hundreds of people who have filed complaints with the Federal Trade Commission because of false advertising. If you want killer abs, you have to put in the work. Try this workout:

Ab Glider

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The YouTube video makes it seem like the Ab Glider is the only way to sculpt your stomach. This is false. You can perform all these exercises, and more, on the stability ball or mat with more control than the Ab Glider. Use your abs and work your entire body with this plank exercise plan.

Air Climber

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This low-impact machine, which makes you feel like you're walking on air, promises to target your arms, core and legs. Many users say the Air Climber provides a surprisingly good workout, but it's not sturdy and breaks easily. With prices ranging from $60 to $90, we suggest you save your money. Get a low-impact workout using the elliptical machine, or try this 30-minute full-body circuit workout.

Magnetic Bracelet

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There are several brands that market their own versions of this pain-soothing wrist wear. According to original magnetic bracelet manufacturer, Sabona, the copper and magnets reduce swelling and soothe aches and pains associated with rheumatoid arthritis. But according to a study from BioMed Central, these claims are not backed by scientific research, and these bracelets may be no more effective than a placebo. While your first course of action should be to consult a medical professional, you can try alternative forms of pain management such as yoga and massage therapy.

The Bun and Thigh Max

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Get the legs and butt you've always wanted in only five minutes a day. This means you can shape a sexy lower body from the comfort of your favorite chair, in front of the TV at home. Buyers beware, when claims sound too good to be true, they usually are. When it comes to sculpting lean, sexy muscles you cannot spot reduce. This means you need to add cardio and sound nutrition in addition to strength training to slim down. Want a challenging lower-body workout that will give you head-turning results? Try this TRX workout:

Red XL Abdominal Exerciser

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Another device that promises a killer workout without even leaving your chair, the Red XL Abdominal Exerciser allows you to swivel side to side to "tone" your obliques. If you're looking for a new swivel chair this might not be a bad investment, but you shouldn't count on this piece of equipment to give you the rock-hard abs you've always wanted. What many people may not realize is that the abdominal muscles are only a fraction of your core muscles. This means if you want sculpted abs, you need to target all of these muscles. Save your money and get more bang for your buck with this functional core workout.

The Hawaii Chair

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Sit back, relax, and get fit—are we noticing a theme here? There's no denying that certain forms of dance such as Hula and Tahitian provide a fantastic core workout, but can a motorized chair that simulates this movement really deliver results? The Hawaii Chair claims that customers can use the device as a desk chair and blast calories at the office. But as demonstrated by talk-show-host Ellen Degeneres, and MSNBC health editor Linda Dahlstrom, the chair makes it nearly impossible to get anything done, and feels like you're riding a mechanical bull. Want to experience the benefits of hula without lowering your productivity at work? Grab a hula-hoop and try this workout.

Toning Shoes

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These shoes have become popular in the last few years and athletic brands such as Reebok, New Balance and Sketchers have all released their own line of toning shoes. The claim is that the sneakers are specially designed to work your legs and butt while you walk, so you can blast more calories and tone up fast. According to the Mayo Clinic , however, there is no evidence to back up these claims. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has received several complaints about foot and leg pain from users. If a toned tush is what you're after, try this butt-sculpting workout.

Tony Little Gazelle

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A gazelle is commonly recognized as a fast, graceful animal, so why wouldn’t you want a piece of fitness equipment named after this active antelope? There are several different models of this cardio glider that’s endorsed by personal trainer Tony Little. The Gazelle provides a low-impact workout so if you have knee, hip or joint pain, you may prefer the gliding motion over the pounding from running or jumping. But the biggest problem with gadgets and gimmicks is that customers expect a get-fit quick solution. Losing weight requires hard work and patience. There’s no need to shell out the cash for this piece of equipment. Instead, try these fat-blasting cardio workouts.

Body By Jake Max Burn Suit

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If you wear this futuristic-looking fitness suit when you exercise, you can supposedly raise your body temperature, burn more calories, and lose weight. While wearing this suit will definitely make you sweat more and lose more water weight, it isn’t the way to lose weight (unless you’re a wrestler trying to shed last-minute pounds for your pre-match weigh-in). The weight you lose during exercise will be replaced as soon as you drink a sufficient amount of water post-workout. Plus, since the suit makes you sweat more, that means you need to drink more fluids to offset dehydration. Instead, stay cool and comfortable in your fitness attire and make sure you hydrate properly.

Ace Power

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Professional jockeys are traditionally slender, so it may seem logical to invent a fitness gadget that mimics the movement of riding a horse. But before you let the inventors of the Ace Power take you for a ride, watch the video and decide for yourself. If you prefer a full-body workout that won’t make you look ridiculous, try these 22 butt-kicking kettlebell moves.

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